Breaking Waves: Ocean News

Hundreds of ‘emaciated’ and stranded pelicans turn up along California coast

admin — Mon, 13 May 2024 19:28:52 +0000

State’s department of fish and wildlife says the brown pelicans are showing signs of malnutrition, but that the cause is still unclear

Hundreds of starving and stranded brown pelicans have turned up along the California coast in recent weeks in what wildlife advocates have described as a “crisis”.

Island birds more adaptable than previously thought

admin — Mon, 13 May 2024 19:04:49 +0000

The researchers found that birds were more evolutionarily similar on smaller, more isolated islands than on larger, less remote places. The team had expected to find that forested areas had more numerous and more varied species of birds compared to farmland areas. But they were surprised to find that the opposite was true: Areas with farms and human settlements had more species of birds and greater diversity than forested areas.

Baby skates on verge of extinction in Tasmania hatched by scientists – video

admin — Mon, 13 May 2024 15:00:28 +0000

The ancient fish were successfully hatched by scientists in Tasmania using two adults and 50 eggs. The Maugean skate is thought to be found only in the vast harbour on the state’s west coast. Numbers have fallen sharply due to the impact of salmon farms, hydro power stations altering upstream river flows, gillnet fishing and rising harbour temperatures due to the climate crisis, studies have found

‘It just didn’t work’: how businesses are struggling with re-useable packaging

admin — Mon, 13 May 2024 14:13:30 +0000

To move away from a disposable culture, businesses need robust, efficient reuse systems, argue campaigners

Fast fashion is wasteful, and thrifting is flawed. The solution: swap!

admin — Mon, 13 May 2024 14:00:26 +0000

Read more from the DIY Climate Changers, a new series on everyday people’s creative solutions to the climate crisis

Jannine Mancilla, 32, and Nicole Macias, 34, bonded over a shared love of DIY fashion and hand-me-downs, and frustrations with an environmentally destructive industry and a throwaway culture that creates read more

Thousands evacuated in Canada as intense wildfire approaches town

admin — Mon, 13 May 2024 12:42:37 +0000

British Columbia wildfire service says blaze is burning 2km from Fort Nelson and encourages remaining people to leave

An intense wildfire could hit a town in western Canada on Monday, based on forecasts of strong winds that have been fueling the out-of-control blaze which has already forced the evacuation of thousands, fire experts and officials warned.

The British Columbia wildfire service said the blaze was burning just 2km (1.2 miles) north-west of Fort Nelson, which has already seen about 3,500 people evacuated from there after an order to leave was issued on Friday.

read more

Global wildlife crime causing ‘untold harm’, UN report finds

admin — Mon, 13 May 2024 12:23:33 +0000

More than 4,000 species are targeted by traffickers, with illegal trade active in 80% of countries, says Office on Drugs and Crime

More than 4,000 species around the world are being targeted by wildlife traffickers, causing “untold harm upon nature”, a UN report has warned.

Wildlife crime is driven by demand for medicine, pets, bushmeat, ornamental plants and trophies. Out of all the mammals, birds, reptiles and amphibians seized, 40% were on the red list of threatened or near-threatened species, the report found.

read more

Rise of drug-resistant superbugs could make Covid pandemic look ‘minor’, expert warns

admin — Mon, 13 May 2024 07:00:20 +0000

Common infections will kill millions if drug resistance through misuse of antibiotics is not curbed, says England’s ex-chief medical officer

What is antimicrobial resistance and how big a problem is it?

The Covid-19 pandemic will “look minor” compared with what humanity faces from the growing number of superbugs resistant to current drugs, Prof Dame Sally Davies, England’s former chief medical officer, has warned.

read more

England gets 27 new bathing sites – but no guarantee they’ll be safe for swimming

admin — Mon, 13 May 2024 06:00:18 +0000

Water campaigner Feargal Sharkey says newly designated sites will join ‘ignoble, floundering list of failure’

Twenty-seven new bathing sites will be designated in England ahead of this summer’s swimming season, the government has announced.

Giving waterways bathing status means the Environment Agency has to test them for pollution during the summer months, putting pressure on water companies to stop dumping sewage in them.

Church Cliff beach, Lyme Regis, Dorset

Coastguards beach, River Erme, Devon

Coniston boating centre, Coniston Water, Cumbria

read more

Chelsea flower show hosts garden designed to help survivors of torture

admin — Mon, 13 May 2024 06:00:17 +0000

Charity that challenged UK’s Rwanda policy helps create space designed to evoke happier memories of homelands

The healing power of horticulture for survivors of torture is to be celebrated at this year’s Chelsea flower show in a garden also promoting the work of a charity at the forefront of challenging the government’s Rwanda deportation plans.

read more